REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Narrator: Jim Dale
Publisher: Pottermore Publishing
Publication Date: November 2015
Genre: Childrens / Young Adult / Fantasy
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: There it was, hanging in the sky above the school: the blazing green skull with a serpent tongue, the mark Death Eaters left behind whenever they had entered a building... wherever they had murdered...

When Dumbledore arrives at Privet Drive one summer night to collect Harry Potter, his wand hand is blackened and shriveled, but he does not reveal why. Secrets and suspicion are spreading through the wizarding world, and Hogwarts itself is not safe. Harry is convinced that Malfoy bears the Dark Mark: there is a Death Eater amongst them. Harry will need powerful magic and true friends as he explores Voldemort's darkest secrets, and Dumbledore prepares him to face his destiny...

Having become classics of our time, the Harry Potter series never fails to bring comfort and escapism. With their message of hope, belonging and the enduring power of truth and love, the story of the Boy Who Lived continues to delight generations of new readers.

My Thoughts: This book definitely did not hold the same shock factor for me in this reading that it did 18 years ago. On this, my fourth read of Half-Blood Prince, knowing what’s coming helped me actually focus more on the story instead of worrying about what may or may not happen. On the heels of Book 5 when Harry lost Sirius, I was dreading finding out who Harry would lose next. If Rowling could kill off Harry’s godfather, then nobody was safe. Having grown up without his parents, unfortunately, Harry has become accustomed to losing the people he loves.

After a long summer at the Dursley’s, Harry is collected from Privet Drive by none other than Professor Dumbledore who takes Harry on an excursion to contact an old colleague and then escort him to the Burrow.

Harry, Ron and Hermione finally receive their long anticipated O.W.L. exam results and Harry finds himself in an advanced Potions class with a new professor, Horace Slughorn. Potions have never been Harry’s favorite class, especially when Snape was the instructor. Harry acquires a potions book that belonged to someone calling himself the “Half-Blood Prince” and following the notes and tips provided within the book by the previous owner, Harry outperforms Hermione.

Harry is convinced that Draco is up to something sinister and spends a lot of time trying to figure out what it is. There are a few occurrences of students being cursed by unknown perpetrators that add to the suspense of the story. I enjoyed that Harry is made Captain of the Quidditch team and puts together a team that will hopefully win the House Cup.

The best part of the book, for me, are the private lessons Harry has with Professor Dumbledore where he learns what Dumbledore already knows about Voldemort’s early years and family. Through Dumbledore’s memories, Harry witnesses Dumbledore’s first meeting with the boy who would become the most evil wizard of all time. Harry is also tasked with finding out the true memories of one of the professors that had been tampered with. Harry has his work cut out for him in this installment and as with the whole series, I enjoyed every minute of it.

Also, the narration of the audiobooks is absolutely brilliant and makes my enjoyment of this series so much more. Jim Dale is no stranger to the arts, being a highly talented and experienced actor, himself. The decision to use him for the narration was and continues to be perfect. Once again, as always, much love and all the stars to J.K. Rowling for bringing Harry and this wonderful world to life and then sharing it with us.

My Final Verdict: As with most of the fans of this much beloved series, I have watched the movies and though Snape is quite despicable in the books, I was completely head over heels with Alan Rickman’s performance. Though most people should find his actions in the book deplorable, Rickman’s performance in the movie made me feel heartbroken, but a little sympathetic. Though there are always many every time I read these books, I can’t help but notice some major differences between the books and the movies that really stood out for me. These observations didn’t create any negative feelings or take away any enjoyment of the story, but were more of an hmmm, that’s interesting moment.
• The muggle Prime Minister is aware of the wizarding world
• Cornelius Fudge has been replaced as the Minister of Magic by Rufus Scrimgeour (I can’t remember if that is ever addressed in the movies at all, but I do recall him making an appearance in the first half of Deathly Hallows)
• In the book, Narcissa speaks the words of the unbreakable vow and not Bellatrix
• Dumbledore collects Harry at the Dursley’s, not at the London tube and disrupting his potential date
• Ginny and Molly have an intense dislike for Fleur. This was interesting because the movies don’t spend any time on the courtship between Fleur and Bill until it’s time for their wedding. Additionally, Ginny calls Fleur ”Phlegm” behind her back, which I found hilarious
• Harry, Hermione and Ron use extendable ears to eavesdrop on Draco when he is in Borgin and Burkes and Hermione goes into Borgin and Burkes to try to determine what Draco wants held for him on reserve
• Tonks finds Harry on the train and fixes his broken nose and not Luna
• Luna is announcing the Quidditch match, or rather, making offhand remarks about complete nonsense, infuriating McGonagall which was quite entertaining
• Bellatrix isn’t one of the Death Eaters on the astronomy tower
• At the end when Harry is dueling with Snape, Buckbeak attacks Snape to protect Harry

REVIEW: Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane

Title: Pretty Little Wife
Author: Darby Kane
Narrator: Xe Sands
Publisher: Harper Audio
Publication Date: December 2020
Genre: Mystery / Suspense / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Debut author Darby Kane thrills with this twisty domestic suspense novel that asks one central question: shouldn’t a dead husband stay dead?

Lila Ridgefield lives in an idyllic college town, but not everything is what it seems. Lila isn’t what she seems. A student vanished months ago. Now, Lila’s husband, Aaron, is also missing. At first these cases are treated as horrible coincidences until it’s discovered the student is really the third of three unexplained disappearances over the last few years. The police are desperate to find the connection if there even is one. Little do they know they might be stumbling over only part of the truth….

With the small town in an uproar, everyone is worried about the whereabouts of their beloved high school teacher. Everyone except Lila, his wife. She’s definitely confused about her missing husband but only because she was the last person to see his body, and now it’s gone.

My Thoughts: Pretty much from the beginning of the book, the reader is made aware that Lila’s marriage is terrible. The fairy-tale ending that Lila was hoping for when she and Aaron got married is far from the reality. He’s abusive and controlling. Their conversations are layered with contempt and hostility and he’s dead. Lila should know because she’s the last one to see his body. The problem is now that Aaron’s body is no longer in the place she left it. She left it in a very public place, hoping it would be discovered as well as the evidence of the atrocities he had committed. But, no, the body is gone and instead of the police investigating an assumed suicide, they are now investigating a missing persons case and logically wondering why Lila doesn’t seem upset about her husband’s disappearance.

The provocative questions I had at the start were did she kill him? If so, why? Where is he? Is he really dead? Lila is not a likable character but as I got to know her, I began to respect her ability to survive and think fast on her feet. I didn’t agree with a lot of the choices she makes, but by the end of the book I had a lot of admiration for what she has gone through and survived and come out on the other side with scars and damage she keeps neatly hidden.

Finding out you’re married to a monster is pretty bad, but better the monster you know, right? Lila has experience dealing with monsters. She’s been dealing with them her whole life. It took me a long time to figure out who the current monsters were and what they had planned, but though I found this book good, it really didn’t really knock my socks off. The ending was well played and I had to hand it to Lila. I can’t decide whether she’s a true victim and survivor or if she is another monster but I was impressed with her determination to not only survive, but win.

I chose the unabridged audio format for this story. Xe Sands’ performance was quite good blending the tension, suspense and emotions of the characters together making their behavior, decisions and actions believable.

My Final Verdict: I recommend this story to fans of mysteries, thrillers and domestic suspense novels. Some of the subject matter may be hard to read as it may be triggering.

REVIEW: Flying by the Seat of my Knickers by Eliza Watson

Title: Flying by the Seat of my Knickers (The Travel Mishaps of Caity Shaw #1)
Author: Eliza Watson
Publisher: Elizabeth Watson
Publication Date: February 2016
Genre: Chick-Lit / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Why run from your troubles when you can fly instead?

When Caity Shaw is fired from her first job that doesn’t require an elf uniform, her older sister, Rachel, an event planner, hires her to work a meeting in Dublin. Caity jumps at the opportunity to travel abroad and escape her pathetic life. However, even four thousand miles from home, there’s no avoiding debt collectors, an overbearing mother, and haunting memories of a controlling ex.

While in Dublin, Caity suffers a series of humiliating mishaps, causing her to lose even more faith in herself. Caity struggles to earn Rachel’s respect — and to keep Declan, her hot Irish coworker, at arm’s length. Declan repeatedly saves Caity’s butt and helps boost her self-confidence, making it difficult to keep her distance from the charming womanizer. When Declan helps her research her Irish grandmother, Caity discovers the mysterious past of the courageous woman she barely knew might hold the answers to her future.

My Thoughts: Flying by the Seat of my Knickers is the first book in a series by new to me author Eliza Watson. Please note this series is best read in order as each book follows our main character, Caity Shaw, on her travels. This story is set in Ireland and I found it to be well researched and illustrated in my mind so eloquently that I really need to get myself over to the Emerald Isle. Note to self: update bucket list.

Upon first meeting Caity, the first thing I noticed is she’s a hot mess. She is newly single, after leaving an abusive relationship with her narcissistic ex who was stalking her. It got so bad that her performance at her job suffered and she was fired. Now, she’s working for her sister, Rachel’s events planning company, trying to prove to herself and everyone around her she can be a functioning adult. She is struggling to learn her job, not mess it all up, not make her sister regret hiring her all while trying to figure out what her next step will be. Now that her car has been repossessed back in Wisconsin and the only job prospects sitting in her email inbox is a seasonal gig as an elf and working at the local motor mart convenience store, let’s just say that Caity has hit rock bottom and the only direction for her is up.

In addition to this, yes there is more, Caity learns that her grandmother came from Ireland and in between doing her job and getting information from her mother, she is tracing her genealogy to find out where her grandmother came from and discover if there are members of her family left in Ireland. I found this bit quite interesting as I am experiencing this with my husband who is researching his family tree and finding relatives he never knew he had. I am hopeful that there will be more time spent on this in future books.

Caity works with Declan and Gretchen. I thought Declan was a great character and though there is some hint of attraction, nothing happens, but the relationship may develop over the series. On the flip side, Gretchen was a complete witch. I found her to be condescending and full of herself. When she isn’t flipping her hair and making pouty lips and fluttery eyeballs at Declan, she’s trying to sabotage Caity in front of Rachel.

My Final Verdict: It appears that each book in this series features a new travel destination, so readers who love stories set in interesting locations will enjoy this series. I liked Caity for the most part, but she needs a lot of work. She needs to grow a spine, stand up for herself more and take her power back. There wasn’t a lot of time spent on the abusive relationship, but I had a good sense that she is terrified of her ex showing up and this detour pulled me out of the overall story a few times. The next book in the series takes place in Paris and it will be interesting, if not entertaining, watching Caity try to make her away around. Hopefully, Declan will be there to offer a hand.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Flying by the Seat of my Knickers from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

Title: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
Author: Judy Blume
Narrator: Laura Hamilton
Publisher: Listening Library
Publication Date: January 2010
Genre: Teen / Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Margaret Simon, almost 12, has just moved from New York City to the suburbs, and she’s anxious to fit in with her new friends. When she’s asked to join a secret club, she jumps at the chance. But when the girls start talking about boys, bras, and getting their first periods, Margaret starts to wonder if she’s normal. There are some things about growing up that are hard for her to talk about, even with her friends.

Lucky for Margaret, she’s got someone else to confide in...someone who always listens.

My Thoughts: Though this book has been around for a very long time, originally published in 1970, it never crossed my mind to pick it up until I heard about the movie coming out. I'm still on the fence about whether or not I will watch the movie, but enjoyed this book, a coming-of-age story about a girl who has meaningful conversations with God about getting her period, growing breasts, liking boys and whether she should be Jewish or Christian.

I liked Margaret and thought she was pretty typical of most girls her age, though it was never my experience to brag to my friends about who got their period or, more importantly, who got it first. Additionally, it was never an occasion that was celebrated, at least not with my parents.

I listened to the unabridged audio format that was a fast listen at just over 3 hours in length. Laura Hamilton’s performance was very good and breathed life into all of the characters, giving me a better understanding of them and their personalities.

My Final Verdict: This book’s target audience is for children ages 9-12, but I may not have understood the references had I read this then. Judy Blume is a talented author with an excellent insight and voice that will appeal to readers of all ages.

REVIEW: The Empty Nest by Sue Watson

Title: The Empty Nest
Author: Sue Watson
Narrator: Jasmine Blackborow
Publisher: Hachette UK - Bookouture
Publication Date: November 2019
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: "Sometimes we can’t see what’s right in front of us, Kat. Everyone has secrets, even the people we love, the people we live with...."

Kat remembers the days when her only daughter Amy wouldn't leave her side. Amy was the baby who cried when you walked out of the room, the toddler who was too shy to speak to strangers, the small child who clung to Kat's legs in the school playground.

But now Amy is grown up, and Amy is gone - to university in a town several hours away. Kat's house - which once felt too full, too noisy, too busy - is deathly quiet, and Kat awaits the daily phone call to tell her that her beloved daughter is thriving and happy.

But one day Amy doesn’t call. Kat’s husband and friends think she is being paranoid - surely Amy is just out, having fun with her friends. But Kat knows right away that something is very wrong. Her daughter would never forget to call. She would never just disappear.... After all, Amy has nothing to run from. Or does she?

A gripping and suspenseful psychological thriller with more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. Fans of The Wife Between Us, The Girl Before, and Gone Girl will be gripped by this story about a mother’s obsessive love for her child.

My Thoughts: I am so conflicted with this book. Sue Watson is one of my go-to authors when I crave the twisty and suspenseful, but this one just didn’t pull me in gripping the edge of my seat in high anticipation like she has with her other stories. The story was good, it definitely wasn’t that, so the only thing that I can conclude is the audio narrator really had me annoyed and irritated at Kat for most of the book. I just couldn’t connect with her, though I felt tremendous empathy for the fear and anxiety she is feeling. It was just so over the top and like a lot of the other characters in the book, I wanted to tell her to chill the eff out.

Obviously, it turns out that Kat was right to worry, but she was in near hysterics and panic mode practically from the moment the book started. Yes, I get it. You and your daughter have a special relationship. You’re extremely close. What I couldn’t help wondering, like a lot of people, is maybe Amy needed a breather from her helicopter mom, always hovering overhead, breathing down her neck. She’s away at university in Wales and for the first time in her life living on her own so maybe the girl just wants to embrace that freedom for a hot minute without her mother smothering her. Five minutes after Amy is supposed to walk through the door for a weekend home, her mother is obsessively checking her phone, scrolling through Amy’s Instagram, calling the friends.

Five minutes turns into 24 hours turns into 48 hours turns into 8 days and the police are involved. Facebook pages have been created for people to post information about her and then things start to turn quite ugly. Amy’s roommates tell the police that they saw Amy with an old guy the night before she was supposed to go home for the weekend. Then the roommate tells the police that the man is Richard, Amy’s stepfather. Shut The Front Door! Why was Richard in Amy’s flat? Why didn’t Kat know about it?

I’m all in now, let me tell you. Still not enough information to determine if Amy was taken or if she left on her own and who she left with remains a mystery until nearly the end. In typical and brilliant Sue Watson fashion, she rips the rug right out from under me and I’m completely blown away.

Thumbs up must also go to Jasmine Blackborow for her superb narration performance. In addition to making Kat sound as neurotic as humanly possible, she breathes life into the other characters so magnificently that when the final twists come, the reader is so trusting of the people around, just like Kat, that I could hardly believe what was happening!

My Final Verdict: Readers who like a very slow burning story and don’t mind characters that get on your nerves in the beginning will adore this story. It wasn’t my favorite, but once things started to heat up beyond Kat’s hysterics, I couldn’t pull myself away.

REVIEW: Making Your Mind Up by Jill Mansell

Title: Making Your Mind Up
Author: Jill Mansell
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: May 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Love is a complicated thing...

Lottie Carlyle is happy enough. Living in a beautiful cottage with her two adorable-sometimes-kids in an idyllic village, on good terms with her ex-husband, and with friends all around, everything is going just fine. But when she meets her new boss, her peaceful world is thrown into delightful, exciting, and frustrating chaos. Tyler is perfect for Lottie, but her kids do not agree. To make matters worse, the handsome and mysterious Seb appears on the scene, intriguing-and distracting-Lottie and charming her children, making it more and more difficult for her to make up her mind...

My Thoughts: Quite an enjoyable story, rich in detail and so character driven, I honestly had a challenging time who I wanted to see more of. Though Lottie and Tyler are major characters, there were also several that I felt a deep connection with. Cressida, Freddie, Mario, Amber, Jojo as well as Lottie’s children, Ruby and Nat who were quite bratty for two thirds of the book. Usually books with this many characters all with different storylines can be a challenge to follow and keep everything straight, but Ms. Mansell does it so seamlessly without dragging the reader out of the story.

As the reader gets to know Lottie, Cressida and Amber and how they are all connected, I loved how each of them are in a place in their lives where they need to make up their minds. Lottie needs to make up her mind about Tyler. Will she allow her children to dictate her love life? They like Seb, but he’s really just an overgrown kid himself. Will he be there when life throws hurdles in their path?

Cressida lives a solitary existence making greeting cards and spends lots of time with Jojo, who is her ex-husband’s daughter. I found this relationship surprising and a little disturbing, but I quickly warmed up to these two and realized how well they got along and felt bad that Cressida’s husband left her for not giving him a child but relies on her to take care of the child he has with his next wife. Wouldn’t have minded seeing that guy get run over by a bus. Cressida meets Tom and his son Donny and may have a chance at romance but will need to make up her mind about Jojo and her role in Jojo’s life.

Amber is dating Lottie’s ex-husband, Mario. She gets along wonderfully with Ruby and Nat (don’t get me started about how unfair these kids are towards Tyler dating Lottie) but she has trust issues with Mario and begins to wonder if his bad boy persona is just that or if he really is a liar and cheater. Amber needs to make up her mind about whether she needs to find someone who she can fully trust and will make her happy or if she should stay with Mario.

In addition to all of this going on, Lottie’s boss, Freddie wants Lottie’s help tracking down people from his past that he needs to make amends with, as he has already made up his mind about his life and the direction it will go.

My Final Verdict: A story with so much to unpack but leaves me caring so much about what happens to them is a book not to be missed. This book made me smile and cry. There were some laugh aloud moments and some moments of righteous indignation and irritation. What more could a reader ask for? Fans of romance and fiction will find something in this story that will tug on their heartstrings. You just need to make your mind up but save yourself the trouble of indecision and just go for it.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Making Your Mind Up from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea

Title: Those Empty Eyes
Author: Charlie Donlea
Narrator: Vivienne Leheny
Publisher: RB Media, Recorded Books
Publication Date: March 2023
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: You know her name.

You know her face.

You know those eyes…

Ten years after she was exonerated for the slaughter of her family, the girl the tabloids called “Empty Eyes” is the only one looking for the truth in this propulsive thriller from #1 internationally bestselling author Charlie Donlea.

Alex Armstrong has changed everything about herself—her name, her appearance, her backstory. She’s no longer the terrified teenager a rapt audience saw on television, emerging in handcuffs from the quiet suburban home the night her family was massacred. That girl, Alexandra Quinlan, nicknamed Empty Eyes by the media, was accused of the killings, fought to clear her name, and later took the stand during her highly publicized defamation lawsuit that captured the attention of the nation.

It’s been ten years since, and Alex hasn’t stopped searching for answers about the night her family was killed, even as she continues to hide her real identity from true crime fanatics and grasping reporters still desperate to locate her. As a legal investigator, she works tirelessly to secure justice for others, too. People like Matthew Claymore, who’s under suspicion in the disappearance of his girlfriend, a student journalist named Laura McAllister.

Laura was about to break a major story about rape and cover-ups on her college campus. Alex believes Matthew is innocent, and unearths stunning revelations about the university’s faculty, fraternity members, and powerful parents willing to do anything to protect their children.

Most shocking of all—as Alex digs into Laura’s disappearance, she realizes there are unexpected connections to the murder of her own family. For as different as the crimes may seem, they each hinge on one sinister truth: no one is quite who they seem to be . . .

My Thoughts: Based on the description of Those Empty Eyes by new to me author Charlie Donlea, I anticipated a thrilling and twisty ride of suspense and mystery. Unfortunately, this book failed to deliver. Instead, I was given a very choppy story, disjointed writing and excessively repetitive details (how many times does the reader need to be told that hiding behind the grandfather clock saved Alex’s life?) Honestly, I got it the first time! If that wasn’t bad enough, the author adds insult to injury by giving me an ending that provided absolutely zero closure with a whopper of a cliffhanger! Is Alex going to be privy to the nuclear explosion you just dropped in my lap? Will there be a sequel or will Alex live out the rest of her life never knowing the whole bloody truth of what really happened to her family and who was involved?

Come on dude, you can’t end a book like that, with some out of left field twist without any follow-up or resolution after everything Alex has gone through with losing her family, being accused of the crime, being stalked and harassed by paparazzi to eventually learning the truth and rebuilding her life.

So, what did I like? I liked the cover and the narration of the audio by Vivienne Leheny. This was also my first audiobook narrated by Ms. Leheny and I found her performance to be realistic and the characters authentic. She employed the right amount of emotion of verbal tension to make their actions more believable.

My Final Verdict: I would have liked this book so much more had there been logical resolutions that fit the plot instead of twists that seemed to be thrown in as an afterthought. Fans of suspense, mystery and thriller novels will find much better options elsewhere.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Those Empty Eyes from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: One Night Only by Catherine Walsh

Title: One Night Only
Author: Catherine Walsh
Narrator: Jessica Regan
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Publication Date: July 2021
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Who could have predicted this? Being at the same wedding. In Ireland. There’s a reason one-night stands are one-night stands. You’re not supposed to see each other again, especially not when you’re the maid of honor, and he’s the groom’s brother…

Sarah Anderson has never been more excited about anything in her life. She’s going to her best friend’s wedding. And not just any wedding. An Irish wedding. Goodbye New York, hello rolling green hills and men with beautiful accents and twinkling eyes.

But Sarah should have known that not all guests are fairy-tale princes…

There’s the chinless Uncle Trevor, whose idea of small talk is to claim climate change is a conspiracy.

Then there’s Great Aunt Eileen, who doesn’t talk at all (she’s too busy replacing the hotel cutlery with her own set).

Worst of all, there’s Declan Murphy. Best man. Brother of the groom. And the man Sarah last saw naked.

Is there anything more mortifying than bumping into a one-night stand halfway across the world? Especially as Declan seems determined to embarrass Sarah at every turn. At least when the wedding’s over she’ll never have to see him again.

But, back in New York, Sarah finds the more she tries to forget Declan, the more she can’t shake the thought of that infuriatingly charming smile and the way he wears a tux…

Was he really just for one night only, or might Declan Murphy be The One?

Prepare to laugh until you cry with this perfect feel-good romantic comedy about taking a chance on love. Fans of Sophie Ranald, Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes won’t be able to put this down!

My Thoughts: Fun premise for a story I enjoyed but did not love. How awkward would it be to have a one-night stand with a hot guy with an Irish accent only to have him show up at your best friend’s wedding because he is the groom’s brother? For Sarah Anderson, this is exactly what happens.

I liked Sarah for the most part, but I thought her aversion to relationships became tiring and annoying. The reason for her aversion was completely understandable, but get over it, already! Not every guy is your ex who dumps you after you tell him you love him or your mother who bailed.

Declan Murphy, on the other hand, was a great character. He has looks, charm, a great sense of humor, loves his family and has a fantastic work ethic. Sarah, and every dang unattached woman in this book, should be clamoring to catch Declan’s eye. In spite of their initial hook-up, Sarah and Declan have great chemistry and, when she isn’t trying to ruin it, what it takes to make a go of a relationship.

Lots of great supporting characters add to the story and it should be a keeper shelf book, right? I went with the audiobook edition and enjoyed the narration by Jessica Regan. Her Irish accent was lovely and her American accent was good, though I caught hints of her Irish lilt in Sarah’s voice at times. I will check out more of Catherine Walsh’s stories, especially if the protagonist male is anything like Declan.

I would have loved to see Sarah cut loose a little bit and let her hair down, which you would think she does considering she has no problem picking up and sleeping with men she just met. Unfortunately, not Sarah. She’s wound tighter than a straight man’s butt cheeks in prison. Hopefully with Declan around, she will learn to lighten up, grab life by the horns and live in the moment.

My Final Verdict: Fans of the romantic comedy, chick-lit and women’s fiction genres will likely enjoy this book. Books set in interesting locales such as New York and Ireland also hold great appeal.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of One Night Only from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan

Title: The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris
Author: Jenny Colgan
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: August 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Life is sweet in this heartwarming tale of a little chocolate shop in Paris, by the bestselling author of Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop of Dreams and Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe.

Mouth-watering recipes inside!

As dawn breaks over the Pont Neuf, and the cobbled alleyways of Paris come to life, Anna Trent is already awake and at work; mixing and stirring the finest, smoothest, richest chocolate; made entirely by hand, it is sold to the grandes dames of Paris.

It's a huge shift from the chocolate factory she worked in at home in the north of England. But when an accident changed everything, Anna was thrown back in touch with her French teacher, Claire, who offered her the chance of a lifetime - to work in Paris with her former sweetheart, Thierry, a master chocolatier.

With old wounds about to be uncovered and healed, Anna is set to discover more about real chocolate - and herself - than she ever dreamed.

My Thoughts: Jenny Colgan writes the kinds of books that tempt the reader so subtly, like a whisper, drawing the reader ever closer with thoughts of cupcakes, bakeries and chocolate that before the reader realizes what has happened, they are drawn into the story and completely mesmerized by their surroundings. Having a major sweet tooth and sugar craving, The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris captured all of my senses, the sights, sounds and scents of Paris and the elite Le Chapeau Chocolat where the chocolate is made daily and by hand and is sought out by the entire city of Paris, it seems.

As Anna Trent learns, once you have tried the chocolate made by Thierry Girard, no other chocolate will ever come close and she knows first-hand, having worked in a chocolate factory in England. She also knows that what she thought she knew about making chocolate doesn’t even come close to what she witnesses in Paris. After a tragic accident finds her out of a job and recuperating, she crosses paths with her old French teacher, Claire, who not only helps Anna improve her French but puts her on a path of self-discovery and an opportunity to learn from the best.

This story is really two stories with Anna’s story told in the present and Claire’s story told in the past. Though these women lead very different lives and walk different paths, fate brings these women together at a time when they needed one another, with Anna recuperating from her accident and Claire battling cancer.

I really liked that these characters are flawed humans, not perfect, living lives that are far from perfect, filled with daily challenges that so many of us take for granted. I felt a deep connection with both of these amazing women. I could relate to Anna as she takes her first steps, moving to another country, trying to fit in and find her place. I empathized with her on her accommodations leaving a lot to be desired, but the view of the Eiffel Tower from her tiny balcony is breathtaking. I could also relate to Claire and the lifetime of opportunities that were missed and the regret she carries with her, which is probably just as painful as the cancer ravaging her body.

The secondary characters are just as vibrant, breathing additional life into this story. Thierry, his son, Laurent, Thierry’s partner, Alice, Claire’s ex-husband, Richard, Anna’s eccentric roommate, Sami were all interesting to varying degrees. The detail the author gives for the intricate process of making the chocolate was fascinating.

This story made me laugh and made me cry and made me catch my breath when events come full circle, as life usually does.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story for the charm and excitement of Paris, for the melt in your mouth chocolate, but most especially for the opportunity to meet two characters who live life on their own terms even if it pulls them out of their comfort zone.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: One of Those Flings by Lauren Blakely

Title: One of Those Flings
Author: Lauren Blakely
Narrator: Andi Arndt, Jason Clarke, Erin Mallon, Savannah Peachwood, Emma Wilder, Jakobi Diem, Dan Bittner
Publisher: Audible Originals
Publication Date: August 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy The Book: Audible | Amazon

Description: Skyler’s breakup survival plan is simple: Swear off men for a year and celebrate her man cleanse with a solo tropical vacation to Hawaii. Snorkeling, sightseeing, zip lining, and leisurely dinners by the sea are just what the doctor ordered to mend her broken heart.

That is, until she meets a hunky adventure tour guide who makes her want to break all her own rules. Handsome, funny, and exciting, Caleb is by far the hottest local attraction. Will a romantic island fling lead to more heartbreak - or a new beginning?

My Thoughts: Initially, what I thought was going to be a fun adventure for a woman taking a manbatical after her latest break-up just didn’t measure up. I really liked the idea of taking a year off of dating and focusing on self-care with a tropical vacation to Hawaii thrown in to celebrate it. I just didn’t feel invested in Skylar or her journey and never felt connected to Caleb.

Books with the vacation fling premise can be quite fun and entertaining, but this one just fell flat for me and honestly, I think it’s because it was an audiobook and it was only 1 hour and 17 minutes long so there was absolutely no time to flesh out Skylar and Caleb so the reader can get to know them better. Also the sound effects were too much. By this, I felt like I was in a crowded restaurant with all the white noise in the background; flatware scraping on plates, conversations that aren’t clear enough to make out what’s being said but distracting enough to pull me out of the story. The most annoying for me were the scenes where Skylar is texting her friend about Caleb. There were sound effects for the sounds on the phone when you are typing out a text. I’m rolling my eyes so hard, I began to worry, they would get stuck. At one point, I started to think there was a problem with the recording and that something else had been recorded with this book. Sometimes too much of a good thing becomes a bad thing.

I enjoyed the performances of all the narrators and the story itself was OK. I think I would have enjoyed it more as a Kindle book with quality time spent getting to know the characters better.

My Final Verdict: If you are a person that is easily distracted by a lot of extraneous noise may want to give this one a pass. If you are a reader looking for a quick fix and welcome the plethora of sound effects, this book will fit the bill.

REVIEW: The Werewolf's 15 Minutes by Jonathan Maberry

Title: The Werewolf’s 15 Minutes
Author: Jonathan Maberry
Narrator: Ray Porter and Dina Pearlman
Publisher: Audible Originals
Publication Date: October 2021
Genre: Fantasy / Urban Fantasy
Buy The Book: Audible | Amazon | BN

Description: Gary Bruce is a slacker of epic loserness. Can't keep a job. His friends are as bad as he is. No girlfriend. No direction.

Gary Bruce is also a werewolf.

Desperate for any kind of success, Gary decides to out himself on You Tube. The moment this ordinary guy goes full-on fur, fangs, and claws, the world can't get enough of the biggest thing on social media, he's on every talk show, book and movie deals fall in his lap, and for the first time in his life he gets invited to all the best parties.

But celebrity is a special kind of voracious monster. And when Gary's star begins to lose its luster, he has to decide how far he'll go to stay relevant in a world that discards has-beens in favor of the next big thing.

Fortunately, Gary has a plan....

My Thoughts: Audible has struck a goldmine with their original stories, in my opinion. This one is less than two hours in length, but is thoroughly entertaining, funny and shocking.

Gary Bruce is a slacker, a loser, someone you would expect to be living in their mother’s basement in his fifties and the type of guy most girls want to avoid on the online dating apps. But Gary does have one thing going for him. He’s a werewolf and he decides to out himself by filming his change and posting it on YouTube. Of course, the initial reaction is huge, though most of the comments are assumptions about the use of a morphing software app for special effects.

Once Gary proves it’s real, he’s an overnight celebrity. People can’t get enough of him, he’s invited to talk shows, there are book deals, movie deals in the works, medical professionals want to examine him to figure out how this is possible. There are even werewolf groupies and he has an agent.

The funny thing about overnight fame and glory is it can be short-lived and over-rated and Gary finds himself caught between staying relevant to the public and possibly losing his humanity completely or embracing his life and taking charge of his own destiny on his own merits.

New to me author Jonathan Maberry’s writing is clever and witty while also depicting the trauma one would expect a werewolf to suffer, especially once they have been outed. The narration by Ray Porter and Dina Pearlman was fantastic and kept me riveted on what Gary’s next move will be. I enjoyed that while in wolf form, Gary speaks with a throaty, growl of a voice and the performance of these parts really add to the story, making Gary one of the most interesting characters I have come across in fiction.

My Final Verdict: Werewolf fans will definitely want to sink their teeth into this story, but I think it will appeal to fans of urban fantasy genres and readers who like to root for the underdog…or underwolf.

REVEW: In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer

Title: In a New York Minute
Author: Kate Spencer
Narrator: Amanda Dolan and Neil Hellegers
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Publication Date: March 2022
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: A clever, tender, and romantic novel for readers of Christina Lauren, Jasmine Guillory, and Sophie Cousens, this laugh-out-loud debut is a perceptive reminder that fate can have a sense of humor, and that love can happen…In a New York Minute.

Franny Doyle is having the worst day. She’s been laid off from her (admittedly mediocre) job, the subway doors ripped her favorite silk dress to ruins, and now she’s flashed her unmentionables to half of lower Manhattan. On the plus side, a dashing stranger came to her rescue with his (Gucci!) suit jacket. On the not-so-plus side, he can’t get away from her fast enough.

Worse yet? Someone posted their (entirely not) meet-cute online. Suddenly Franny and her knight-in-couture, Hayes Montgomery III, are the newest social media sensation, and all of New York is shipping #SubwayQTs.

Only Franny and Hayes couldn’t be a more disastrous match. She’s fanciful, talkative, and creative. He’s serious, shy, and all about numbers. Luckily, in a city of eight million people, they never have to meet again. Yet somehow, Hayes and Franny keep running into each other—and much to their surprise, they enjoy each other’s company. A lot. But when Franny’s whole world is turned upside down (again!), can she find the courage to trust in herself and finally have the life—and love—she’s always wanted?

My Thoughts: This story was so much fun! Great characters and an interesting story are what every reader seeks and In a New York Minute hits all the marks. It’s bad enough that Franny Doyle gets laid off from her job, but on her way home, her dress gets caught in the subway door and tears the dress exposing her backside. Yes, dig me a hole right here so I can crawl in and die from mortification. Fortunately for us, Franny does not. A handsome guy, who Franny nicknames "Hot Suit", gives her his suit jacket to salvage her modesty. A few tears are shed, she snots all over him, he gets off the train and she has no idea who he is or how she is going to return his jacket to him.

Unbeknownst to either one of them, the entire scene is recorded and appears on social media, making them instant celebrities. #SubwayQTs. At this point, I would be considering a change of identity and city. Instead, Franny meets her rescuer, Hayes Montgomery III, when they are invited to do a television interview and my first impression is he is kind of a stuffed suit, hot or not. The jacket is returned and really, is there any reason to think these two would meet again under any circumstances? Over the course of this story, not only do they cross paths multiple times, but are so dang stinkin’ cute, it got me right in the feels.

Franny is a wonderful character with great spirit and attitude and Hayes is like that box of chocolates Forrest Gump’s mother told him about. Not only was he not a stuffed suit, but he was also fabulous. The arrogant persona he presents to the world is the outer shell to protect the mushy center he keeps private.

This story was hilarious right from the start. The writing was spot on, but the narration performed by Amanda Dolan and Neil Hellegers was fantastic. They captured the essence and personality of these characters perfectly. The supporting characters Cleo, Lola, Eleanor and Perrine added to the fun of the story and New York City is a character in its’ own right. I want to go across the Brooklyn Bridge and eat at Grimaldi’s mainly to see if the Arizona locations actually do it justice.

My Final Verdict: This story is pure fluff, but it works! If you’re looking for something cute and light that doesn’t require a degree in rocket science to understand, give this one a try. This would have been a great rom-com movie from Nora Ephron.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of In a New York Minute from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The New Wife by Sue Watson

Title: The New Wife
Author: Sue Watson
Narrator: Tamsin Kennard
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: November 2021
Genre: Thriller / Mystery
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: You can never truly know what goes on behind closed doors…

My darling son, Sam, is marrying his childhood sweetheart and I couldn’t be prouder of the man he’s grown into. Walking out on his abusive father all those years ago was the best thing I ever did. And today he stands, tall and handsome, saying ‘I do’ to my dream daughter-in-law. If I hadn’t pushed them together all those years ago, he might never have found a girl as perfect as Lauren. It’s true what they say, mother always knows best.

But weeks later, Lauren is dead and police cars fill the driveway of their idyllic countryside home. As they question Sam, I sense he’s hiding something. Why won’t he look me in the eye? And who does he rush off to meet as soon as the police are gone?

Desperate, I do what every good mother would do: I let myself into Sam and Lauren’s bedroom. What I see, I will never be able to forget. My son’s beautiful new wife was hiding a dangerous secret. Can I clear my son’s name? And could my life be in danger now too?

A completely gripping, utterly twisted thriller that will leave your jaw on the floor. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl, The Wife Between Us and The Woman in the Window.

My Thoughts: What do you call a writer that authors a story that is fun, tugs on your heartstrings with all the feels and on a dime can switch to a story that holds you by the throat in a grip so tight that you are completely powerless to move or utter a sound? You call that author talented and not just talented but freaking brilliant and Sue Watson is such an author.

Her whimsical, fun and heartwarming stories are what drew me to this author in the first place, but her domestic thrillers and mysteries knock me down like an NFL linebacker and leave me wondering if I need a seatbelt for the very harrowing ride I am about to embark on.

With The New Wife, we are introduced to Georgie who has raised her son, Sam, as a single parent after leaving his abusive father. When Sam is still knee-high to a grasshopper, he meets Lauren on their first day in nursery school and for the next twenty plus years the Jackson and Moore families become the best of friends and even refer to themselves as The JackMoore’s. So, it comes as no surprise that Sam and Lauren grow up together, fall in love and get married.

The surprising part comes just a few months after the wedding, Lauren is dead, her broken and bloody body found at the foot of the stairs. It comes as no surprise that the first person to be under suspicion is Sam. The spouse is always the first suspect and I admit, I had my suspicions of him too. Another surprising part of this story is that every character in this book caused me to question their own involvement, including Sam’s mother! See what I mean about this author’s ability to draft a story that pulls you in so intensely?

When the final reveal comes, it’s not very surprising as it is more heartbreaking, especially because it didn’t have to happen that way and even with the conclusion, there really isn’t a happily ever after for anyone. My one and only issue with this book is there is a major cliffhanger thrown in at the end that I wish had been dealt with as it definitely creates more problems for the characters in this story.

I was fortunate to listen to the audiobook format and found the narration performed by Tamsin Kennard to be riveting and entertaining. The story is told from Georgie’s point of view and Ms. Kennard did a fantastic job capturing Georgie’s personality, spirit and emotions.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I highly recommend this story to fans of the author because, we love her stories and she’s a must read. If you haven’t read anything by Sue Watson yet, what are you waiting for? I also recommend this book to fans of the mystery, thriller and suspense genres who enjoy stories that are rich in character development and can shock you while entertaining you at the same time.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The New Wife from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice-Cream by Sue Watson

Title: Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice-Cream (The Ice-Cream Café #2)
Author: Sue Watson
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: June 2017
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Dani’s on a mission to get her life back on track by the end of the Summer. Running, rowing, aerobics and more, but perhaps all she needs are sweet treats and a second chance?

Twenty years ago, Dani fled Appledore with a broken-heart and a suitcase full of shattered dreams. Only now is she brave enough to put her past behind her and return for a summer selling homemade ice-cream and getting fit by doing sit-ups by the sea.

But the new-look cafe is filled with old memories of Jude, her teenage sweetheart-turned-sour. She thinks of him every time she swirls warm sauce onto a “chocolate-bockaglory” and even with the help of Chris, her gorgeous personal trainer, the urge to break her diet is everywhere she turns.

When Jude makes an appearance at the cafe on the eve of Dani’s birthday party, history threatens to repeat itself. Is Dani strong enough to say no? And is the love she’s been longing for much closer than she thinks?

My Thoughts: Book #2 in The Ice-Cream Café series by the very talented Sue Watson was just as yummy as the first book! Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice-Cream introduces the reader to Dani Sheridan, the new assistant manager Ella hires for the Ice-Cream Café. I found Dani to be 100% relatable and easy to empathize with. As a fellow ice-cream addict, erm…connoisseur of all things ice-cream, I completely felt for Dani and the journey she is on.

I loved being back in Appledore with the gang and getting to know Dani. One of the best things about this book, for me, is the author tells a new story instead of rehashing the same story from before. The original characters all make numerous appearances, but this story is all about Dani and her struggles with her weight and self-esteem. Her early experiences at the gym and meeting Chris had me wiping tears of laughter from my eyes and thanking the good Lord I didn’t endure the gym catastrophes Dani did, but I admired her determination and tenacity to keep moving forward.

I was mortified for her when the newspaper article comes out and though it is highly humorous, I understood how Dani felt and would have joined her on a splurge. She is so human, after all, and like the rest of us have highs and lows.

When the reader finally learns what happened to Dani that drove her away for twenty years, I just wanted to cry and hug her. I admired the strength of her character for wanting to put the past behind her and start over in a town she has always called home and ring in her fortieth birthday in style.

I also enjoyed watching Dani’s relationship with Chris blossom from professional training to friendship and hoped pretty please with a cherry on top that their friendship would bloom into more.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this book worked for me on so many levels. Characters that are easy to relate to and care about, locales that have so much charm and appeal you want to go there immediately and a story that serves up so much sweet and yummy goodness, you want to dive head-first into the story and be a part of it. I highly recommend this story to readers of the chick-lit, contemporary romance and women’s fiction genres, but also to readers who like to see good people get a break and find success.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice-Cream from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Ella's Ice-Cream Summer by Sue Watson

Title: Ella’s Ice-Cream Summer (The Ice-Cream Café #1)
Author: Sue Watson
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: May 2017
Genre: Chick-Lit / Romantic Comedy / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Ella’s life just hit rock-bottom, but can a summer by the sea mend her broken heart? When life gives you lemons… make ice-cream!

Life hasn’t always been easy for single mum Ella, but she has just hit an all-time low; she’s jobless, loveless, very nearly homeless and, to make matters worse, now the owner of a pocket-sized pooch with a better wardrobe than her.

Packing her bags (and a bigger one for the dog), Ella sets off for the seaside town of Appledore in Devon to re-live the magical summers of her youth and claim her portion of the family ice-cream business: a clapped-out ice-cream van and a complicated mess of secrets.

There she meets gorgeous and free-spirited solicitor, Ben, who sees things differently: with a little bit of TLC he has a plan to get the van – and Ella – back up and running in no time.

Ella’s Ice-Cream Summer is a heart-warming and hilarious romance that will scoop you off your feet and prove it’s never too late for a fresh start.

My Thoughts: This story is so much fun! I want to drive a pink ice-cream van on the beach serving homemade ice-cream with a Pomeranian in designer duds along for the ride! Ella is a fantastic character that you can’t help rooting for. She is experiencing a lot of bad luck all at once with her children taking off to begin their lives when she is let go from her job and learns that her slimeball ex-husband is selling the house out from under her. Her favorite aunt, Sophia, has recently passed away and Ella wants to go to the funeral and learn more about her inheritance. Ella’s mother thinks it’s a terrible idea and has been on the outs with her sister for most of Ella’s life but won’t explain why. Frustrating, isn’t it? Luckily for Sue Watson’s readers, Ella doesn’t give up that easily.

This story made me laugh and cry and I felt immense empathy for Ella as well as irritation at her mother and her cousin for all the secrets that have kept Ella separated from her extended family. It didn’t take me long to figure out what the secrets were and once it came out and Ella finally got answers, I shed a few tears along with her.

The extended cast of supporting characters add a lot of depth and dimension to this story. As annoying as Ella’s mother was, I thought she was quite entertaining with her misunderstanding of the difference between sexting and texting and what Netflix and chill really mean. Ella’s cousin, Gina, was a very interesting character. At the first meeting, the reader is given the impression that Gina is very vain and full of herself but learn it’s a façade that she erects to protect herself. I also liked Ben immensely and hope he will make an appearance in future books as I thought he and Ella had great chemistry.

My Final Verdict: You don’t have to be a fan of ice-cream to enjoy this book, but it sure won’t hurt. The concoctions Ella creates demonstrates she has a special talent for the family ice-cream business. I highly recommend this story to fans of chick-lit, romantic comedies and women’s fiction as well as readers who are looking for something delicious to appease their sweet tooth.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Ella’s Ice-Cream Summer from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Wife Support System by Kathleen Whyman

Title: Wife Support System
Author: Kathleen Whyman
Narrator: Natalie Drew
Publisher: Saga Egmont Audio
Publication Date: March 2021
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: We’ve got the balance all wrong. Instead of living with our partners, struggling to do everything by ourselves and only seeing each other now and then, we should do it the other way round. We should live together and see them now and then.

Erica knows her suggestion sounds extreme, but when her nanny leaves without notice, she’s extremely desperate. Polly and Louise aren’t convinced, but when circumstances force them to move into Polly’s enormous but run-down house, they have to admit that life’s much easier when the childcare and workload is shared.

At first, communal living seems like the answer to all their prayers - childcare on tap, rotas for cleaning, and someone always available to cook dinner (no more last-minute pizza delivery!). But over time, resentment starts to grow as they judge each other’s parenting styles and bicker over cleaning, cooking and whose turn it is to buy toilet rolls.

And as one woman has her head turned by a handsome colleague, one resorts to spying on her husband and another fights to keep a dark secret, they need each other more than ever. But can Polly, Louise and Erica keep their friendship and relationships strong? Or will their perfect mumtopia fall apart?

Essential reading for anyone fed up with never-ending housework/homeschooling/preparing healthy meals that their kids reject … Will have you shrieking with laughter! Fans of Why Mummy Drinks, Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life? and Beth O’Leary won’t want to miss this one!

My Thoughts: Wife Support System by new to me author Kathleen Whyman was not only relatable on so many levels to me, as a woman, but was very clever and entertaining! So many women in the world are performing a juggling act, trying to balance careers, spouses, partners, children and home. Some women appear to manage it flawlessly but come on! They are either Stepford Wives or aliens.

This story introduces us to Erica, Louise and Polly who all share a common trait of many pots on the stove and not enough hands to stir. Erica has a brilliant suggestion after her nanny abruptly quits. Why not share a house with each other and see their respective partners on the weekends? Share everything…housekeeping, the shopping and the child minding. Erica’s partner of ten years, Dan, is hardly ever there and when he is, he can’t be bothered to help. Louise is uber organized and appears to be critical of her husband, Nick. Polly is a single parent who is struggling with anxiety and could use a helping hand but is afraid of letting anyone in close enough to ask.

One house, three women and five kids. As you can expect, it’s not long before tension and resentments build and relationships begin to feel the strain.

I loved this story for many reasons. Relatable characters with real world issues, concerns and problems are a huge draw for me. Add in the entertaining aspect of humor and tears and I couldn’t look away. I liked these women but I often felt like Erica and Louise were selfish and taking advantage of Polly, especially when it came to the child minding. Polly doesn’t work outside the home and it’s her house that everyone moves into. Though it makes sense for Polly to be the primary caregiver, I started to feel a little put out on Polly’s behalf when it started to feel expected.

Erica works on a television show and for a good part of the story is more plugged into her phone and her job instead of being available for her daughter but resents it when her daughter and Polly become close.

Louise struggles with her weight and has a lot of resentment towards her sister. She takes her husband for granted and there are major trust issues for her with her husband. She also ignores her children because she is so wrapped up in her own head. She is a bit of a control freak and it shows with the numerous lists she creates.

Polly is a bit of a push-over. She is dealing with major trauma in her life, raising two children after the man she loves dies suddenly. She is living in a very large house but it is run-down and she could use some friends.

As this story goes on, we learn much more about these women that made me see them more openly with all the baggage they each are carrying. I ended up rooting for all of them to come out on top and this story did not disappoint.

Kathleen Whyman is an author I will be on the lookout for. Her ability to create characters that the reader will connect to is wonderful. This story made me laugh, cry and even shocked me. The plot flows so seamlessly that I was a little surprised that it was ending. I could easily see it continuing and myself catching up with these women over coffee or wine. I went with the audio format for this story and Natalie Drew’s narration was fantastic. She does a brilliant job of conveying multiple emotions and tones for the characters that will draw the reader into the story.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story to readers who like connecting to the characters on a deep emotional level, who like stories that are relationship driven and like surprises mixed in with the laughter and tears. This story reminded me that we all have times in our lives where a little support goes a long way and we just have to be brave enough to ask for it and seize it.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Wife Support System from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza

Title: The Girl in the Ice (Detective Erika Foster #1)
Author: Robert Bryndza
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: February 2016
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Her eyes are wide open. Her lips parted as if to speak. Her dead body frozen in the ice…She is not the only one.

When a young boy discovers the body of a woman beneath a thick sheet of ice in a South London park, Detective Erika Foster is called in to lead the murder investigation.

The victim, a beautiful young socialite, appeared to have the perfect life. Yet when Erika begins to dig deeper, she starts to connect the dots between the murder and the killings of three prostitutes, all found strangled, hands bound and dumped in water around London.

What dark secrets is the girl in the ice hiding?

As Erika inches closer to uncovering the truth, the killer is closing in on Erika.

The last investigation Erika led went badly wrong… resulting in the death of her husband. With her career hanging by a thread, Erika must now battle her own personal demons as well as a killer more deadly than any she’s faced before. But will she get to him before he strikes again?

My Thoughts: First of all, the gorgeous cover is what captured my notice. Major applause and thumbs-up to the talent who designed it. Secondly, like other authors, who initially are only known for their work in one genre, I thought Robert Bryndza’s work was solely in the romance genre. Having enjoyed Miss Wrong and Mr. Right, I had a lot of anticipation with this one.

The Girl in the Ice is the first installment of a multi-book series featuring a character so damaged by what life has handed her, I applauded her ability to get out of bed, much less think straight and solve a heinous murder. Erika Foster is introduced to us on her first day at the Lewisham police station. She was previously at Manchester but was on an extended leave after she was injured in the line of duty that also took the lives of five other officers, including Erika’s husband, Mark. Right away, Mr. Bryndza paints a very precise picture of the pain Erika has endured on the inside and the outside as well as the feeling that she is being drop-kicked into the deep end of the pool on her first day as lead investigator. I felt very overwhelmed for Erika and admired her tenacity and resolve, especially as she meets with resentment from a fellow officer.

The victim is the daughter of a high-ranking member of the government and Erika’s superiors try at every opportunity to keep her and her team on a very tight leash. Erika’s first meeting with the family doesn’t go well either even though both Erika and the victim’s mother are of Slovak heritage. This actually surprised me as I thought it would give Erika and the family some common ground they could connect on, but the family is less than cooperative with the investigation and wield a lot of control with the authorities.

As Erika’s investigation gets more complex, we learn that the killer is watching Erika’s movements very closely and brazenly puts themselves in very close proximity to Erika on multiple occasions. The author does an amazing job of throwing many suspects at the reader, including members of the victim’s family, ex-boyfriends, fiancé and I even began to suspect some of Erika’s associates and superiors. This made for quite a twisty novel for me, trying to figure out the identity of the killer, which took me to nearly the end of the story.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a very good story filled with nail-biting suspense and characters that are drawn so well that the reader can easily connect with them. I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series to readers who enjoy multi-layers of suspense and intrigue, like to be shocked at the outcome and appreciate that a talented author can cross genre lines and do so quite well.